Can TMJ Disorder Cause Difficulty Opening the Mouth
Have you ever tried to open your mouth to eat or yawn and felt it just wouldn’t open fully? That stiffness or pain can catch
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The TMJ is the most accommodative joint in the body. It has the capability to absorb stress from the cranium above, the facial muscles in front and the cervical complex below. It is unique in that it forms the highest point in the postural chain. To add to these above facts, there is also the fact that 2 important nerves, the Trigeminal Nerve and the Facial Nerve traverse in close proximity to the TMJ. Together these nerves supply roughly 80% of all the muscles of the head.
Due to the above reasons, any flaw in the above mentioned structures will finally end up with excessive strain in the TMJ.
The TMJ can also be affected from a opposite-side defect. The bilateral TMJ is the only joint in the body that crosses the midline. Hence, if there’s a problem in 1 joint, there’s going to be a problem on the other side as well; may not be symptomatic as yet, but it’s like a ticking bomb waiting to happen.
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